OGUN CRACKS DOWN ON ILLEGAL DUMPING, PROSECUTES 108 OFFENDERS IN ABEOKUTA
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
No fewer than 108 residents have been arrested and prosecuted for illegal waste disposal in Abeokuta as authorities intensify enforcement of environmental sanitation laws.
The Ogun State Waste Management Authority disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, noting that the offenders were apprehended across various parts of the state capital while dumping refuse on roadsides, medians, and other public spaces.
According to the agency, the violators were arraigned before customary courts and fined as part of measures to deter further infractions.
Commenting on the development, the Special Adviser to the Governor on OGWAMA, Farook Akintunde, described the enforcement action as necessary, despite previous efforts to educate residents.
“It is just unfortunate that we have to go this route to stop some of our people from dumping waste indiscriminately on roadsides and in public places,” he said.
Akintunde noted that the government had earlier embarked on sensitisation campaigns and encouraged residents to dispose of waste through designated Private Sector Participation operators but observed continued non-compliance.
He stressed that the enforcement exercise would be sustained until residents adhere strictly to proper waste disposal practices.
“We are determined to continue this exercise until they see the need to stop dumping waste indiscriminately, especially now that the state is wearing a new look in terms of proper waste management,” he added.
The government also warned that indiscriminate waste disposal poses serious environmental and public health risks, particularly during the rainy season, as it can lead to flooding and contamination of groundwater.
Residents were urged to comply with existing waste management guidelines or face prosecution, as authorities reiterated their commitment to maintaining a clean and safe environment across the state.
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